Turn Aun and drone out

Montreal’s drone master teams up with
Voivod’s Away for a record and Victoriaville gig

DIGGING DEEPER: Aun

In only three years of crafting drone/ambient under the name Aun, local musician Martin Dumais, once of les Jardiniers, has already released nine records on such disparate labels as Crucial Blast, Montreal’s Alien 8 and Important. With the inclusion of synths, processed percussion and real-time video c/o visual artist Julie Leblanc, Aun, now a duo, have truly carved out their own niche in the overcrowded drone world. Their recently released and oddly titled VII (it’s Aun’s ninth release), featuring the percussion of Voivod drummer Michel “Away” Langevin pushed to the forefront of the maelstrom, could be considered Aun’s crowning achievement. The Mirror talked to Dumais while he was packing before traveling to a show in New York.

Mirror: What was it like, working with Away?

Martin Dumais: I’ve collaborated with a lot of people previously, but he’s probably the easiest person I’ve ever worked with. I hope we can do more things in the future because it’s just so cool working with Michel. He’s so professional yet laid back at the same time.

M: This is your ninth release as Aun, not including compilations, in just three short years. How do you remain so prolific?

MD: When it seems I’m working on one record, I’m actually working on about three at the same time. I like to work with various colours and when I have enough colours for one record, I’ll just move on to the next thing.

M: More recent releases have shown you using less drone and moving more towards melody.

MD: I guess I get really bored really fast and need to try different things. I really have to diversify to keep interested.

M: Why do you think there is such a proliferation of drone artists right now?

MD: I think a lot of people into rock music are getting into drone through bands like Sunn O))), and then digging deeper to modern composers like Steve Reich and LaMonte Young. A lot of people that are playing this kind of music also have backgrounds in metal, so people are also coming from that angle. There are just so many drone artists right now though, I’m personally getting a little fed up with it. I mean, how much drone music can you actually listen to? I’m sure in six months I’ll be doing ambient stuff again but right now I’m just more interested in making music you can sway your hips to.

AUN & MICHEL LANGEVIN WITH LYDIA
LUNCH AND PHILIPPE PETIT AT FIMAV
AT COLISÉE DESJARDINS (400 JUTRAS
E.), VICTORIAVILLE, ON FRIDAY,
MAY 21, 10 P.M., $32

Noise that’s
fit to print

First-rate freakouts mark
FIMAV’s return

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Montreal’s festival season is getting under way, but one of the best fests happening during our defrosting season remains outside our city limits—the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, now in its 26th edition. Things looked perilous when FIMAV was a no-show last year, but thankfully it’s back with the most cutting-edge free jazz, noise, spoken word, musique concrete and other experimental forms. This year is decidedly scaled down, with less concentration on big marquee names, but no less impressive. Here are some hot picks from this year’s line-up.

Montreal’s own Sam Shalabi conducts Monogamy, the second installment from his Land of Kush project, which twists and contorts traditional Arabic pop with searing psych, jazz and more. Packing in five singers and over 20 musicians, this should prove to be epic and electrifying. At Colisée Desjardins, Thurs., May 20, 10 p.m., $32

No wave legend Lydia Lunch performs with musical accompaniment from Philippe Petit, whose turntablism and prepared sounds give Lunch’s words further ascension. Lunch’s pedigree is without question—she helped change the Lower East Side music scene with her bands Teenage Jesus and the Jerks and 8 Eyed Spy in the late ’70s—but it’s her sharp-tongued spoken-word performances that remain her most riveting work. With Aun & Michel Langevin at Colisée Desjardins, Fri., May 21, 10 p.m., $32

On FIMAV’s final day, a music and spoken-word performance should prove to be one of the festival’s highlights when French poet Anne-James Chaton performs with the backing of the Ex member Andy Moor’s improv-styled guitar. Chaton’s poetry is based on “the data overload polluting our lives,” according to the festival guide, while Moor’s inventive guitar playing should prove to be equally rewarding. At Colisée Desjardins, Sun., May 23, 5 p.m., $22

FOR COMPLETE INFO GO TO FIMAV.QC.CA

Turn Aun and drone out

Montreal’s drone master teams up with Voivod’s Away for a record and Victoriaville gig

Noise that’s fit to print

First-rate freakouts mark FIMAV’s return

Montreal’s drone master teams up with
Voivod’s Away for a record and Victoriaville gig

Noise that’s
fit to print

First-rate freakouts mark
FIMAV’s return